One month later, the numbers were finalized.
Inside the main hall of the Li residence, the account book lay open on the table.
Salt.
Sugar.
Chili.
Prepared dishes.
Wholesale and retail combined.
Hotels and open market sales together.
Every entry had been carefully recorded.
At the bottom of the page—
Total Net Profit: 3,800 Silver Coins.
For the Tian family, this figure felt unreal.
Just a few weeks ago, they had been struggling to repay debts.
Now, they were holding an amount that most families would never see in their lifetime.
Li Hua stared at the ledger for a long time. His fingers trembled slightly as they rested on the page.
"We're back," he said quietly.
There was no celebration.
No loud excitement.
Only a heavy silence filled with relief.
---
Across the table, Li Tian closed the ledger calmly.
"This is just the beginning," he said.
His tone was steady, almost indifferent.
"This isn't the result."
"It's the first line."
Li Hua looked at him, slightly stunned.
Most people would be overwhelmed by such success.
But Li Tian's expression didn't change at all.
His eyes were already focused on something further ahead.
---
An Unexpected Visitor
That evening, the market was as lively as ever.
The street in front of Tian Flavor Pavilion was crowded with customers. The aroma of chili and spices filled the air, attracting even more people.
Suddenly, the movement in the street slowed.
A luxurious palanquin stopped directly in front of the shop.
The crowd instinctively stepped aside.
The silk curtain was lifted.
A young woman stepped down.
Her clothes were elegant, her posture graceful. A jade hairpin held her hair in place, and her presence immediately drew attention.
It was Su Yan.
The same woman who had broken her engagement with Li Tian when his family fell into decline.
Her gaze moved slowly across the shop.
The customers.
The products.
The signboard.
Finally, her eyes stopped on Li Tian.
"This shop…" she said softly, "…is it yours?"
---
Li Tian looked at her briefly.
His expression remained calm.
"Are you here as a customer," he asked, "or as a guest?"
For a moment, Su Yan didn't respond.
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
---
A Quiet Confrontation
She walked inside and took a seat.
No one dared to interrupt.
A plate of chili dish was placed in front of her.
She hesitated for a moment, then picked up her chopsticks.
The first bite—
Her expression changed immediately.
The heat rose quickly, spreading through her mouth and throat.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
But she didn't stop.
She took another bite.
"You've changed," she said after a moment, her voice softer now.
---
Li Tian didn't look at her.
"I haven't changed," he replied.
There was a brief pause.
"The value of things changed."
---
Su Yan lowered her gaze.
Her grip on the chopsticks loosened.
---
Words Left Unsaid
"Back then…" she began.
Before she could continue, Li Tian raised his hand slightly.
"There's no 'back then' in business," he said.
"And no refunds in life."
The words were simple.
But they landed heavily.
Su Yan fell silent.
A faint tension appeared in her expression.
---
After a moment, she stood up.
"I didn't expect you to reach this level," she said quietly.
This time, Li Tian looked at her directly.
"You didn't believe I could," he corrected.
Their eyes met briefly.
Then she looked away first.
---
Departure
Without saying anything more, Su Yan turned and walked out of the shop.
The attendants quickly followed as she returned to the palanquin.
The curtain fell, hiding her expression.
But the slight stiffness in her posture was hard to miss.
---
Moving Forward
Inside the shop, the noise gradually returned.
Customers continued eating and talking as if nothing had happened.
Li Tian stood by the window, looking out at the street.
The market was alive.
Bright lights.
Voices.
Movement.
Everything was moving forward.
Behind him, the ledger was closed once again.
Silver coins stacked neatly beside it reflected the dim light of the room.
"The past already made its move," Li Tian thought.
He turned his gaze back to the crowd.
"But the future…"
His expression sharpened slightly.
"…is already here."
---
The Tian Flavor Pavilion continued to operate late into the night.
And the name of Li Tian spread even further across the region.